How Effective Is Online Schooling: The Future Of Education
The tides of time and a little assistance from friendly technologies have changed the education industry.
Over the past few months, online schooling has gained a lot of popularity. And it is driving the conventional schools to rethink their curriculum.
But, the question is, how effective is online schooling?
Despite being a necessity, in current times, does it really help students gain a better perspective of real-world problems?
In this article, we have tried to answer these questions.
So, let’s find out.
Online Vs. In-School Curriculum
Most online schools have almost the same curriculum as conventional ones.
They offer discussions, assign homework, and even one-on-one sessions with the students, but virtually.
Like in-school classes, online classes are also well synchronized.
In short, both scenarios offer ample opportunities for students to engage with the subject matter.
The key difference lies in the number of benefits that online classes have to offer over in-school teaching.
Non-Concurrent Curriculum
With in-school classes, every enrolled student must follow a set timetable.
For example, the students who have opted for Calculus and Algebra will need to be present when the class is live. And if by any chance they happen to miss out on the lesson, they may not be able to reattend it.
In contrast, online classes do not limit students with timetables.
If a student happens to miss out on any of their lessons, they may get to attend it in another live session or can also access the recorded ones.
No-Barrier Communications
Another problem with in-school lessons is the hesitation that students may face when communicating with the teachers.
For example, weaker students may find it difficult to ask their questions during the class. And they may never ask the questions in person due to time constraints.
Whereas, it is no concern in virtual schooling. Students can have one-on-one sessions with the teachers. Besides, virtual tutors usually have dedicated hours for doubt sessions.
Additionally, most online schools also host regular parents teachers meet virtually. For example, this British Online School K12 hosts weekly parents meetings. The reason being active communications is emphasized on all levels, even in virtual schools.
Global Student Community
The best part about online schools is they are not limited to geographical borders.
In other words, a school in Manchester may enrol students from Manilla in the Philippines. And every student grows as a part of a global community not limited by any borders.
Boasting a global community of students, online schools actually help promote the concept of global citizens.
And, of course, with the increasing globalization future generations need to interact with students that are not from their local community.
The Bottomline
Online schooling is a revolutionary concept, although it is not new. The pandemic has only propelled its growth more rapidly than it used to be two years ago.
The effectiveness of online learning is a debatable topic. However, it still depends on the students and teachers involved.
For students who wish to explore and still optimize their time management, online classes are definitely a boon. In contrast, weaker students may struggle a little with online classes, not to say that it can hamper their learning altogether.